Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



Oct. 14, 1930.

H. A. WALLACE 1,778,539

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Original Filed July 19, 1928 INVENTOR r fifi'. W2: Haas,

QmZ-W Lil Patented Oct. 14, 1930 uniree STATES PATENT orrice HERBERT A. WALLACE, 0E EDG'EWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG NOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA RAIL VJ'AY-TRAFFIG-CONTRGLLING AEPARAIUS Application filed July 19, 1828, Serial My invention relates to railway trafiic con trolling apparatus of the type involving switches and signals controlled by any suitable manually operated or manually controlled means such as by the levers of an interlocking machine. More particularly, my present invention relates to means for controlling the polarized indication relay commonly used for the control of switch levers or signal levers, or both, in apparatus or" this character.

I will describe two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and willthen. point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing a modification of a. portion or the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and also embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character S designates a railway switch, and the reference characters C C C and C", designate signals governing traffic over the switch S. Switch Sis operated by a switch mechanism D, which in turn is controlled in any suitable manner such as by a switch lever L The signals are similarly controlled in part by means ".ich as a signal lever L through the medium ot circuits which will be explained hereinafter; The switch lever L may be controlled by an indication relay R in any suitable manner. One form of apparatus for controlling the switch mechanism D by the switch lever L and one form of apparatus for controlling the switch lever by the indication relay B, are illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,101,036, granted to l3. l3. Oler on June 23, 1914-. Another form of. apparatus for controlling the switch mechanism D by a device other than a lever of an interlocking machine is illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,650,575 granted to me on November 22, 1927.

As shown in the drawing, the switch S and the switch lever L are in the normal positions. The signal lever L is also in its nor- N0. $93,954:. Renewed llpl'il 2, 1930.

mal position so that all of the signals indicate Stop. Relay R is (BIlGFgIZGCl 1n the normal dlrection, the circuit being from a battery 1 through a pole-changer 1, wire 5,

winding of relay ll, wire 6, contact NE on the tacts 1111 and 1313 or this relay are closed.

Assuming that the operator desires to reverse the switch S, he first moves the lever L to its reverse indicating position, wherein l, wire 8, andcontact NB is open and contact RD is closed. 7

The circuit for relay R is then open at contact NB, and so the neutral contacts of this relay are released, with the result that front contact 12 opens and back contact 10 closes. The normal contacts of the relay, however, do not release until the relay becomes energized by current of reverse polarity. jVVhen the switch S moves to its reverse position in response to this operation of the lever L pole-changer P reverses, and a circuit for re lay R then becomes closed, which circuit is from battery 4, through pole-changer P,

wire 8, back contact 10 of relay R, a resistance 20, the winding of relay R, wire 5, and pole-changer P to battery l. The current which is thus supplied to relay R is of reverse polarity. T he value of resistance 20 is such that the current which then. flows through relay R is sutticient to reverse the polarized contacts of the relay, but is not suilicient to operate the neutral'contacts. It is a characteristic of polarized relays that the polarized armature will operate on a smaller current than the neutral armature. The reverse contacts of the relay ll now being closed, another circuit for this relay is closed, which circuit passes from battery a, through pole-changer P, wire 8, reverse contact 11.11 wire 9, contact RD, wire 6, winding of relay R, wire 5, and pole-changer P to battery 4. The current which then flows through relay R is ol sufiicient value to open the back neutral contact 10 and close the front neutral contact 12. The movement of the lever L to the full reverse position can now be completed, but this movement does not ati'ect contact RD, and, consequently, does not affect the other parts of the apparatus shown in the drawing.

The operation oi the apparatus when the switch S is restored to its normal position will be understood from the foregoing with out detailed explanation.

The resistance 20 maybe replaced by a low resista ce connection if desired, but in that ca 3 the neutral contacts of relay It will tend to operate intermittently during the usually short period between the opening of contact NB or ill) caused by operation or the lever and the opening of the pole-changer caused by the response of the switch, as well as during the short period between the complete operation of the pole-cl an er and the response of the polarized armature of the re lay. ine purpose of re istance 20 is to prevent this intermittent operation of the re A now 1 re iv it c i in the normal direction, and that. the operator swings the signal lever L to the left, signal C will then move to the proceed position, the circuit being from terminal B of a. suitable source of current, through normal Contact iii--13 of relay R, wire i l, contact 2--2 of lever L wire 16, and the oper ting mechanism of signal C to terminal O of the same source of current. It the operator swings lever L to the right, signal C will be cleared, the circuit for this signal including contact 1313 of relay R and contact 2 2" of: lever L lVhen relay R is energized in reverse direction, so that its reverse contact 13l3 is closed, signal C will be cleared through contact 33" it lever L is swung to the left, and signal C ill be cleared through contact 3-3 if the signal lover is swung to the right.

Assuming that all parts oi the apparatus re in their normal positions, if the switch tion position, relay R will become de-energized due to its normal circuit being open at contact NB and so the circuit for all four signals will be open at front contact 12 of relay R and none of these signals can be cleared. If for any reason the switch S is noved out 01" the position corresponding to the position of lever L the circuit for relay ll will be open at pole-changer P and relay R will be (lo-energized, with the same result as before. If switch S is moved to the full reverse position while lever L remains in the normal position, relay R will become re versely energized reversing the polar contacts but the normal contacts will not be pic: (1 up because the current through relay n. is less than suiiicient to open back cont ct ,see

10 due to resistance 20 being in series with the relays.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the indication relay which is here designated R is of the alternating current type, having a winding 21 which is supplied with current from a transformer T through the pole-changer P. The primary oi transformer 'l is connected with wires 26 and 27, which are constantly supplied with alternating current from a generator (3?. Relay R comprises a second winding 22, which is constantly connected with the secondary 01" a transformer 'l the primary ct which receives energy from wires 26 and Relay R comprises three ccutact-z 23 and 25, which are operated when the winding 21 is energized by curr of normal rela"ive polarity. and three other contacts 23, 24: and 25, which are actuated when the winding 21 is energized by current of reverse relative polarity. A relay of this character illustrated and described in Letters *atcnt of the United States l lo. 1,285,498, granted to me on November 1!), 1918.

l he normal circuit for winding 2l of clay R is the same as the circuit for relay It in Fig. 1, and includes contact 24 which closed only when the relay is energized by current of normal relative polarity. The res verse circuit includes contact 2& which closed only when the relay is energized by cxn'r" of rtwcrse relative polarit The auxiliary circuit for relay R through resist ance 91) includes bacla contacts 2 and 23, both of which are closed when and only when the relay is de-encrgized or is energized by current flowing through resistance 20. Contacts A and 24 are adjusted to close when current is of low value due to resistance 20 in the circuit and to remain closed when the current is of full value. Contacts 25 and 25 close only when the current is of full value, and contacts 23 and 23 open only when the current is of full value. The sig nal circuits are controlled by normal con tact 25 and reverse contact 25 in the same way in which these circuits are controlled by the normal and reverse contacts of relay R in Fig. 1.

It is evident that any so-called three-position relay is practically the equivalent of the direct current polarized relay which has been described.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 has the same characteristics and advantages as the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Although I have herein shown and (lescrilz-od only two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended cl ims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a railway switch, a lever for the control of said switch, a polarized relay for the control of said lever, a normal circuit for said relay including a normal contact of the relay and normal contact of said lever, a reverse circuit for said relay including a reverse contact of the relay and a reverse contact of the lever, means including a polechanger operated by said switch for supplying said circuits with current of normal or reverse polarity, and an auxiliary circuit for said relay including said pole-changer and a back contact of the relay.

2. In combination a railway switch, a lever for the control of said switch, a polarized relay for the control oi said lever, a source of current, a pole-changer connected with said source and operated by said switch, means for connecting said relay with said source through a normal contact on the lever and a normal contact on the relay or through a re verse contact on the lever and a reverse contact on the relay, and auxiliary means for connecting said relay with said pole-changer through a back contact on the relay.

3. In combination, a railway switch, a lever for the control of said switch, a polarized re lay for the control. of said lever, a pair of wires the first of which is connected with one terminal of said relay; means for connecting the second wire with the remaining terminal of said relay through a normal contact on the relay and a normal contact on said lever, or through a reverse contact on the relay and a reverse'contact on the lever, or through a back contact on said relay; and means including a pole-changer operated by said switch for supplying current of normal or reverse polarity to said wires according as the switch is in normal or reverse position. i. In combination, a railway switch, a le vet for the control of said switch, a polarized relay for the control of said lever, a pair of wires the first of which is connected with one terminal of said relay; means for corn necting the second wire Witn the remain-- ing terminal of said relay through a normal contact on the relay and a normal contact on said lever, or through a reverse contact on the relay and a reverse contact on the lever, or through a back contact on said relay and a resistance the value of which is such as to permit either the normal or the reverse contact of the relay to close but to prevent the bacl; contact from opening; and means including a pole-changer operated by said switch for supplying current of normal or reverse polarity to said wires according as the switch is in normal or reverse position.

5. In combination, a railway switch, a levet for the control of said switch, a polarized relay for the control of said lever, a source of current, a pole-changer operated by said switch, means operating when said switch is in either extreme position for energizing said relay in normal or reverse direction provided the neutral contacts of the relay are released, means for energizing said relay in the normal direction provided saio pole-changer is in the normal position and the normal contacts of the relay are closed and said lever is in its normal to normal-indicating positions, and means for energizing said relay in the reverse direction provided said polechanger in the reverse position and the reverse contacts of the relay are closed and said lever is in its reverse to reverse-indicating U1. 1'; 6. In combination, a railway switch, means :ior the control of said switch, a relay, a nor- .ial and a reverse temporary circuit for said relay causing a partial functioning thereof, a normal and a reverse final circuit comprising contacts operated by said means and said switch to cause a complete functioning of said relay, and signals governing traflic over said switch and controlled by said relay.

*5. In combination, a railway switch, a lever or the control of said switch, polarized clay, a normal circuit for said relay includ ing a normal contact of the relay and a normal contact of said lever, a reverse circuit for said rel y including a reverse contact of the iv and a reverse contact of the lever, means cling a pole-changer operated by said .tch for supplying said circuits with current of normal or reverse polarity, an auXil iary circuit for said relay including said polechanger and a back contact of the relay, and a signal governing trailic over said switch and controlled by said relay.

8. In combination, a railway switch, a lever for the control of said switch, a polarized relay, a source of current, a pole-changer cond with said source a1 l operated by 'd switch, means for comractin id re T said source through a nor rr lever and a normal contact on t. through a reverse Contact on the lever revei contact on the relay, auxiliary means for connecting said relay with said polechanger through a back contact on the relay, and a signal governing traiiic over said switch and controlled by said relay.

9. In combination, a railway switch, a lever for the control of said switch, a polarized relay, a pair of wires the first of which is connected with one terminal or said relay; means for connecting the second wire with the remaining terminal of said relay through a normal contact on the relay and a normal contact on said lever, or through a reverse contact on the relay and a reverse contact on the lever, or through a back contact on said relay; means including a pole-changer operated by said switch for supplying cur ent of normal or reverse polarity to said wires according as the switch is in normal or r verse position, and a signal governing traffic over said si itch and controlled by said relay.

10. in combination, a railway SNltCll, a lever for the control of said switch, polarized re ay, :1 pair wire the first of which is connected with one terminal of said relay; means or connecting: the second wire with the remaining terminal of said relay through a normal LOi lat-t on the relay and a normal con'act on said lever, or through a reverse contact on the relay and a reverse contact on the lover, or tiirough a back Contact on said relay and a resistance the value of which is such as to permit either the normal or the reverse contact oi the relay to close but to prevent the barn contact from opening; means including a pole-changer operated by said sw 40h for supplying current of normal or reverse polarity to said wires accordii 3 as the switch is in normal or reverse position, and a signal governing traffic over said switch and controlled by said relay.

ll. in combination, a railway switch, a lever for the control of said switch, a pohu ized relay, a source of current, a pole-changer operated by said switch, means operati g when said switch is in either extreme position for energizing said relay in normal or r verse direction provided the neutral conacts of the relay are released, means for energizing said relay in the normal direction pro- 'ided said polochanger is in the normal posi tion and the normal contacts 0; the relay ill closed and said lever is in its normal to normal-indicating positions, means for energizing said relay in the reverse dir ction provider: said n le-changer is in the reverse position and the reverse contacts of the relay 1 closed and said lever in its reverse to reverse-indieating positions, and a signal governing tratlic 0 .er said switel and controlled. by said relay.

12, In combination, a railway swi ch, means for the control of said switch, a polar-- ized relay, a circuit for said relay closed when the relay and said n cans are normal, a second circuit for said relay closed when the relay and said means are reversed, and a signal governing traiiic over said switch and controlled by said relay.

13. In combination, a railway switch, means for the control of said switch, a relay, signals governin t 'aliic ver said switch and controlled by said relay, and a circuit for said relay including contacts operated by said means and said switch, as well as by said relay.

In testimon I whereof I atlix my signature.

HERBERT A. lVALLACF. 

